Indicator



May 10, 1949. K. H. HELLMAN ETAL 2,469,389

* INDICATOR Filed June 4, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 d i i @-59 1- Tanon f s 40 34. 14H ,Numana 30 N0 O STQTIONS Il SYSTEM n zum D BY .32M fec May 10, 1949- K. H. HELLMAN l-:TAL

INDICATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed June 4, 1947 May l0, 1949.

K. H. HELLMAN ET AL INDICATOR s sheds-sheet s Filed June 4, 1947 N & www 5 mm y mz, M ay 2 w. M W Y B Patented May 10, 1949 I INDICATOR Karl H. Hellman, New York, N. Y., and Henry N. Schmidt, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 4, 1947, Serial No. 752,482.I

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) Claims.

The present invention concerns an indicating device formed from a plurality of discs mounted in superimposed relation for rotation relative to each other about a common axis to indicate information such as the electrical wiring connections in an electrical system of the type exemplied by a communication circuit.

In electrical wiring systems, such as the communication circuits used aboard ship, Where a number of different stations are established in the system, it is necessary that the multiple Wires of the main cables which join the station connection boxes shall be connected to the proper terminals at the boxes and it is further necessary that the wires from the equipment, such as telephones, at each station shall be connected to the proper terminals at the station connection boxes. It is customary to provide numbered tags for the cables and Wires and to provide suitable numbered markers for the connection box terminals for identification purposes. The identifying numbers for the cables, wires and connection box terminals, are customarily inscribed upon the wiring diagrams of the circuit and reference is made to such diagrams for effecting the proper connections when initially installing the system, when repairing the system, or when modifying the system to change the number of stations. Use of wiring diagrams of this nature is inconvenient since they are bulky and diflicult to handle and since diiierent diagrams are necessarily used when different numbers of stations are included in the system.

The present invention overcomes these diliculties by providing an indicating device that is manually adjustable to indicate the various connections at any selected station when the total number of stations included in the complete system is known.

The indicating device comprises three superimposed discs which are mounted for rotation relative to each other about a common axis. One of the discs is a data disc having groups of data inscribed thereon with each group comprising at least one column of gures representing electrical wires and another matching column of gures representing electrical terminals to which the Wires are to be connected and with the columns of figures disposed parallel to a radius of the axis of rotation. Superimposed over the data disc is a masking disc having a series of openings of varied sizes arranged so that any selected opening can be brought into registration with any selected group of data to expose at least a portion of the selected group of data. superimposed over the masking disc is an inspection disc having an inspection opening arranged for registration with the selected group of data and selected masking disc opening to expose the unmasked portion of the selected data group to an observer. The inspection disc adjacent its opening is provided with inscribed legends for identifying the selected data columns of iigures. The masking disc and inspection disc are each provided with a peripheral tab to facilitate manipulation by an operator. Each data group on the data disc is identied by an index mark representing a particular station in the system. Each opening in the masking disc is identified by an index mark representing a total number of stations in the system. Openings are provided in the discs so that selected index marks can be viewed by an observer during operation. A

Each data group on the data disc represents the connections at one of Aa plurality lof stations in the electrical system. When a selected opening in the masking disc is brought into registration with a selected group of data, a portion of the data group is masked from view and the amount of data exposed to view depends on the size of the masking disc opening which in turn depends upon the total number of stations in the system. Thus there are exposed to view only the figures indicating the connections at the desired station for a known total number of stations.

The indicating device o f the present invention is compact and easily carried by a person Working on the electrical system. It is readily operated and is easy to read even in poorly lighted and cramped Working space. The indicating device can be used in determining the identifying numbers for the cables and Wires and for the connection box terminals in making connections. It can also be used to estimate the number of conductors in the cable required for each station and for making the connections When installing the electrical system or when modifying the system to change the number of stations. Further use can be found in making repairs and trouble shooting.

The indicating device is described for purposes of illustration as indicating information such as the connections between cables, Wires, and terminals in an electrical system. The device can be arranged, however, for indicating other types of information by providing other types f data in the data groups.

An object of the invention is to provide an indicating device for indicating information such as the wiring connections in any electrical system.

A further object is to provide an indicating device for showing the electrical wiring connections to be made at any selected station in an electrical system having a plurality of stations.

A further object is to provide an indicating device formed from a plurality of discs mounted in superimposed relation for rotation relative to each other about a common axis to indicate the electrical wiring connections in an electrical system.

A further object is to provide an indicating device in which a plurality of superimposed discs are arranged for rotation relative to each other about a common axis, one of 4the discs including groups of data thereon, another of the discs having a series of openings of varied sizes arranged so that any selected opening can be brought into registration to expose at least a portion of any selected group of data, and another disc having an inspection opening which can be brought into registration with the selected opening and the selected group of data so that an observer can view the exposed portion of the selected group of data.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as its construction, arrangement and operation Will be apparent from the following description and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view in assembled relation of a. preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the masking disc forming a part of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the data disc forming a part of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view in section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The present invention (Fig. 4) includes a data disc I I having a central opening I2, a masking disc I3 having a central opening I4, and an inspection disc I5 having a central opening I6. Each of discs II, I3, and I5, can be made of suitable material and it has been found that laminated material provided with a hardened white surface, which is capable of being inscribed with black lettering, is desirable.

Discs II, I3 and I5, are mount/ed together for rotation relative to each other upon a pin I`I (Fig. 4) having at its extremities heads I8 and I9 for retaining the discs against displacement from pin I'I. Disc I3 is sandwiched between discs II and I5 and friction between the discs retains them against slippage in use unless manually rotated relative to each other.

As seen in Fig. 3, data disc II on the surface thereof that is in contact with disc I3 is inscribed with multiple data groups each of which contains electrical connection data corresponding to a station in an electrical wiring system. Adjacent each data group 20 and clockwise from group 20 is a data index 2I that identifies the particular group 28 with its corresponding station. With reference to the data group 20 that is identied by data index 5, a group 20 comprises a pair of columns of figures 22 and 23, a second pair of columns of figures 24 and 25, and a third pair of columns of iigures 26 and 2T. Columns 22, 24, and 26, identify electrical wire numbers to be found at station 5 while columns 23, 25. and 2l, respectively identify corresponding terminals to which the wires are to be connected at station 3. The columns of each data group 2B are arranged substantially parallel to a radius from the axis of rotation at the center of disc II.

Masking disc I3 (Fig. 2) is provided with a series of data openings 28 of varied size and arranged so thatl any selected data opening 28 can be brought into registration with any selected group of data 20 by causing relative rotation between masking disc I3 and data disc II. Masking disc I3 is further provided with a series of index openings 29 that are so formed that when a selected data opening 28 is in registration with a selected data group 20, a selected index opening 29 is in registration with the corresponding data index 2I inscribed on masking disc I3 adjacent each data opening 28 and counterclockwise from opening 28 as seen in Fig. 2, is an identifying masking index 3D. Each data opening 28 includes a portion 3I adapted to register with corresponding data columns 22 and 23, a further portion 32 for registration with data columns 24 and 25 and a third portion 33 for registration with data columns 2E and 21. The series of data openings 28 are graduated in size so that the various openings 28 when brought into registration with any particular data group 20 expose different areas of the particular data group 28. The portion of any particular data group 20 that is not exposed is covered by masking portions 34, 35, and 36, of masking disc I3 adjacent opening 28. Provided on the periphery of masking disc I3 is a tab 31 by means of which an operator can cause rotation of mking disc I3 relative to data disc I I.

Inspection disc I5 (Fig. l) which is superimposed over masking disc I3 is provided with an inspection opening 38 adapted for registration with any selected data opening 28 in masking disc I3 and any selected data group 20 on data disc II. Inspection opening 38 is as large as the largest data opening 28 of masking disc I3. Inspection disc I5 is provided with a further opening 39 for registration with any selected index opening 29 in masking disc I3 and the corresponding data index 2I on data disc II. Inspection disc I5 is further provided with an opening 40 for registration with a masking index 30 adjacent any selected data opening 28 of masking disc I3.

Inspection disc I5 is inscribed with legends 4I, 42, and 43, adjacent openings 38, 38 and 40, respectively, for identifying the various columns of figures of data group 2U that are viewed through opening 38 and for identifying the data index 2| that is viewed Vthrough opening 39 and for identifying the masking index 30 that is viewed through opening 49. The various columns of data in a selected group 20 seen through opening 38 identify wires and cables of a particular electrical system with the corresponding termi nais to which connection is made. Data index 2I seen through opening 39 identifies the station number of the system. Masking index 3U seen through opening 49 idcntiiies the number of stations in the system. Inspection disc I5 is provided at the periphery thereof with a tab 44 that can be manipulated by an operator to cause relative rotation between inspection disc I5 and masking disc I3.

Operation ofthe device is as follows. An operator by manipulating tabs 44 and 3'I causes relative rotation between masking disc I3 and inspection disc I5 until the desired masking index 30 that corresponds with the number of stations in the system is exposed through opening 40 of inspection disc I5. For example, as seen in Figi, inspection disc I5,`masking disc I3, and data disc I I, have been adjusted until the masking index 'I is exposed through opening 40 to indicate that there are seven stations in the complete system. The operator next rotates inspection disc I5 and masking disc I3 together relative to data disc II until the desired data index 2I that corresponds With the particular station in question is exposed through opening 39 of inspection disc I5. For example, as seen in Fig. 1, adjustment has been made so that data index 6 is exposed through opening 39 to indicate that the data relates to station 6.

Thus when the indicating device is properly adjusted the opening 38 of inspection disc I5 is in registration with a data group 20 corresponding to a particular station in the system and masking disc I3 serves to mask any portion of the data group 20 that is not pertinent because of the total number of stations in the system.

Changes can be made in this invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes Without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. An indicating device comprising a plurality of superimposed discs arranged for rotation relative to each other about a common axis, said device including: a data disc having groups of data inscribed thereon with each group comprising at least a pair of columns of data disposed in substantially parallel relation to a radius of the axis of rotation, an identifying data index inscribed adjacent each of the groups of data; a masking disc having a series of data openings of varied sizes and a series of index openings arranged so that any selected data opening may be brought into registration to expose at least a portion of any selected group of data under which conditions the corresponding data index identifying the selected group of data will be in registration With a selected index opening, an identifying masking index inscribed adjacent each data opening; and an inspection disc having an inspection opening arranged for registration with the selected data opening and the selected group of data, a further opening for registration with the selected index opening and the corresponding data index, and a further opening for registration with the masking index adjacent the selected data opening.

2. An indicating device for indicating electrical connections in an electrical system having a plurality of stations, said device comprising a plurality of superimposed discs arranged for rotation relative to each other about a common axis and including: a data disc having groups of data inscribed thereon with each group comprising at least one column of figures representing electrical Wires and another matching column of figures representing electrical terminals to which the Wires are to be connected at a particular station, the columns of iigures being disposed in substantially parallel relation to a radius of the axis of' rotation, a data index inscribed adjacent each of the groups of data identfying the particular station; a masking disc having a series of data openings of varied sizes and a series of index openings arranged so that any selected data opening may be brought into registration to expose at least a portion of any selected group of data under which conditions the corresponding data index identifying the selected group of data will be in registration with and exposed through a corresponding index opening, a masking index inscribed adjacent each data opening identifying a total number of stations; and an inspection disc having an inspection opening arranged for registration with the selected data opening and the selected group of data, another opening for registration with the selected index opening and the corresponding data index, and another opening for registration with the masking index adjacent said selected data opening, said inspection disc having legends inscribed thereon for identifying the selected data columns of figures and the data index and the masking index, the inspection and masking discs having peripheral tabs formed thereon for manually effecting relative rotation thereof.

3. An indicating device comprising a plurality of superimposed discs arranged for rotation relative to each other about a common axis, said device including: a data disc having groups of data inscribed thereon, an identifying data index inscribed adjacent each of the groups of data; a masking disc having a series of data openings of Varied sizes and a series of index openings arranged so that any selected data opening may be brought into registration to expose at least a portion of any selected group of data under which conditions the corresponding data index identifying the selected group of data will be in registration with a selected index opening, an identifying masking index inscribed adjacent each data opening; and an inspection disc having an inspection opening arranged for registration with the selected data opening and the selected group of data, a further opening for registration with the selected index opening and the corresponding data index, and a further opening for registration with the masking index adjacent the selected data opening.

4. An indicating devi-ce comprising a plurality of superimposed discs arranged for rotation relative to each other about a common axis, said device including: a data disc having groups of data inscribed thereon with each group comprising at least a pair of columns of data disposed in substantially parallel relation to a radius of the axis of rotation, an identifying data index inscribed adjacent each of the groups of data; a masking disc having a series of data openings of varied sizes and a series of index openings arranged so that any selected data opening may be brought into registration to expose at least a portion of any selected group of data under which conditions the corresponding data index identifying the selected group of data will be in registration with a selected index opening, and an identifying masking index inscribed adjacent each data opening.

5. An indicating device comprising a plurality of superimposed discs arranged for rotation relative to each other about a common axis, said device including: a data disc having groups of data inscribed thereon, an identifying data index inscribed adjacent each of the groups of data; a masking disc having a series of data openings of REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ela Aug. 22, 1882 Morton Sept. l5, 1903 Sutherland et a1 June 6, 1916 Fulgora Apr. 24, 1923 Beaver June 26, 1928 

